Uber, Ola drivers will have to pay hefty fine for cancelling rides

Uber and Ola drivers might face restrictions on canceling rides as easily as they currently do.

This shift is a result of the Maharashtra government’s new proposal, suggesting that ride-hailing companies like Uber and Ola should impose fines on drivers who frequently cancel rides booked by users.

The prevalent concern shared by Uber and Ola users revolves around the issue of drivers cancelling rides without providing substantial justification.

This behavior often leaves passengers in challenging and inconvenient situations.

As a report, a special group assigned by the Maharashtra government has recommended that passengers who use ride services like Uber and Ola should get their money back if a booked cab ride gets canceled by the driver.

Right now, if passengers cancel a ride after booking and the cab is on its way, they have to pay a fee.

However, there’s no similar rule for when drivers cancel.

Also, extra charges might be added if the cab has to wait a long time for the passenger to start the trip.

The group also said that taxi cabs should reach the pickup spot within 20 minutes to give quick service.

If they take longer, a penalty should be applied.

This group, led by retired government worker Sudhir Kumar Shrivastava, started its work in April.

They will soon give a final report with these ideas to the government for approval.

Passengers have been complaining because sometimes drivers agree to give rides but then cancel later.

An official said, “The idea is that if drivers cancel, they would pay a fine of Rs 50-75 each time, and this money would go to the passenger.

But this can only happen if the government agrees.”

People who use these ride services are hopeful about these new rules because waiting times for cabs have become longer, especially during busy times.

To make sure the rules are followed, the local transport office might have the power to take away a vehicle’s permission to work if it’s not in good shape.

When passengers complain through the app, the company that runs the service looks at things like how good the ride was, how the car looked, and how the whole experience was.

These new suggestions match the Motor Vehicle Aggregators Guidelines 2020 made by the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways.

The central ministry wants every state to use these rules.

The group also looked at things like making sure fares are fair, training drivers, and checking their backgrounds.